Cincinnati quarterback Ben Mauk might want to consider heading the other way if he sees Rutgers defensive tackle Eric Foster on the street.

Three days after the Bearcats' 28-23 victory at Rutgers -- one Mauk punctuated by mocking the Scarlet Knights' "chop" motto on the field immediately afterward -- Foster was still seething over the display.

"That bothered me the most of anything," Foster said after practice yesterday. "To see him making a mockery of something we take so seriously, something we work hard at, something we really believe in, just to satisfy his selfish, arrogant way ... I wish I had another shot to play Cincinnati. But I don't. Hopefully next year these guys will take care of business."

Foster, a 6-2, 265-pound fifth-year senior, said the Knights (3-2) will carry some of that anger from Mauk's taunting actions into their first road game on Saturday against Syracuse (1-5) at the Carrier Dome. Rutgers (3-2) is the last of the 119 Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division 1-A) schools to play on the road.

"We're the class of college football," Foster said. "To see someone do that ... that really bothered everybody, not just me."

The personnel changes that coach Greg Schiano hinted at on Monday were apparent during practice in the Bubble yesterday. True freshman Anthony Davis received more reps at right guard with the first team -- "That's by design," Schiano said -- with right guard starter Kevin Haslam logging time as the backup left tackle. With left tackle starter Pedro Sosa gimpy, Haslam could see minutes there against the Orange. Schiano wouldn't reveal anything about Sosa's injury, but it is believed to be a lingering knee problem.

Among the other moves: Jean Beljour, seldom used before getting time against Cincinnati, had his workload increase at fullback, and linebackers Chris Quaye, Ryan D'Imperio and Blair Bines were getting more reps than usual. Schiano said D'Imperio, just now rounding into shape after suffering a broken leg in the spring, "is going to warrant more time" at middle linebacker. Bines is returning from a broken jaw.

With strong safety Ron Girault (ankle) still questionable, Zaire Kitchen moved to the backup spot behind Glen Lee. "We're going to play both Zaire and Glen," Schiano said. "Zaire (finally recovered from knee surgery) is feeling good again."

Redshirt freshman fullback Andres Morales (shoulder) returned to practice yesterday, creating a logjam at the position with Beljour and Jack Corcoran. QB Mike Teel (thumb) also practiced without any apparent restrictions.